The Powderhorn 24

Participants in the third annual Powderhorn 24, named after the south Minneapolis neighborhood and park that is home to the ride, cumulatively logged enough miles to more than circle the earth. Teams and individual riders traversed the ride’s five-mile route for 24 straight hours, turning 27,435 total miles between the 350 participants. The top individual rider, “Troublino” Loretta Trevino, logged more than 300 miles in one full day, unofficially obtaining the title of the ride’s “Biggest Badass.” The top team, “The Murder Cats Turbo Crew,” logged more than 400 miles.

The Powderhorn 24 was established a few years ago after Twin Cities cyclists participated in a similar 24-hour event in Milwaukee WI, The Riverwest 24. In its short life, the Powderhorn has gained a reputation among Twin Cities cyclists as a community building event and a badge of honor.

The ride is sponsored each year by local shop Freewheel Bike, along with numerous community businesses. This year, Freewheel pushed Powderhorn organizers to focus on safety and meeting all legal standards required for a community ride.

“It’s a community ride, but people are racing,” said volunteer organizer Ginny Marie Herman. “We just kept preaching about riding smart and safe. If people weren’t being safe, we definitely let them know.”

Safety is on everyone’s minds in the Twin Cities—in the past year, three women died cycling on urban streets, another is still trying to overcome catastrophic injuries. Powderhorn participants were pleased to walk away from the 24-hour ride with only one minor accident and one broken bone.

Organizers hope the event will continue to grow. They also want to push for more community involvement and support from businesses and neighbors alike.

“Our fourth year is coming up,” Herman said. “It’s only going to get better.”

For more information about the Powderhorn 24 visit www.powderhorn24.com